§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received concerning the safety of tattoos and piercings; [147522]
710W(2) what research his Department has carried out into the safety of tattoos and piercings; [147524]
(3) what assessment he has made of the health risks associated with tattoos and piercings; [147523]
(4) what guidance his Department has issued to the public on the safety of tattoos and piercings. [147525]
§ Yvette CooperWe have received a small number of representations about the safety of skin piercing, including tattooing.
The Department has not commissioned any research into the safety of skin piercing.
If proper hygienic precautions are not taken, there is a risk of blood-borne virus infection and localised wound infections. Localised wound infections may also occur after skin piercing, if the tattooing or piercing is touched by the client with dirty hands or comes into contact with soiled clothes, towels or bedlinen. Non-infectious and usually not serious complications may occur such as swelling around the piercing and bleeding.
Advice on the risk of blood-borne virus transmission via skin piercing has been included in leaflets for the public on sexual health for young people, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C published by Health Promotion England. The Department's leaflets on general health advice for travellers and specific advice on avoiding the risks of HIV infection while abroad provide similar information. Local authorities, which are responsible for regulating skin piercing businesses, have also produced information for the public.